Sony patent allows tracking of second-hand games and the ability to block their usage

After rumors about the PlayStation 4 not supporting used games flared up last March many gaming personalities chimed in with their support or disapproval. Things went quiet shortly thereafter, but it seems the discussion is about to heat up again. Sony has registered a new patent that can prevent or entirely eliminate the usage of second-hand games.

What at first seems to be described as a way to simply track a game as it's played on different consoles ends with a rather abrupt statement:

"Consider, for example, a case where used is a game package 200 distributed in the second-hand market. Then the ID of reproduction device for the game disk 210 differs from the legitimate use device ID stored in the use permission tag 220, so that the game disk can be reproduced in a mode which is predetermined for those bought and sold in the second-hand market. Also, for example, a content key may be supplied to the reproduction device 130 and the encrypted game AP may be decrypted using the content key only if the reproduction device ID matches a legitimate use device ID. Hence, use of game APs bought and sold in the second-hand market can be eliminated."

Essentially, this patent is able to track game usage by associating a tag built into every game with either a console or user account. Thus, if a different console or account tries to play said game, it can either be treated as a new, unpurchased product or blocked entirely.

Imagine putting a used copy of the Mass EffectGarrus spin-off prequel into your PlayStation 4 and instead of being prompted to purchase an online pass, you're prompted to buy the entire game. Sony's patent allows them to see that your used game is associated with some other dude's account. This dude is still playing the game, because he was able to redownload it digitally without a disk, but you... well, you got robbed.

Look forward to more exciting rumors and mysteries going into 2013 as we hear more and more about how our next gen consoles will take us into the future of gaming.

re: Sony patent allows tracking of second-hand games and the ability to block their usage

Unless gamers step in to stop it, I think that what companies want eventually is absolutely no used game market. Unfortunately, I personally think that eventually everything will be online and that it will be impossible to buy a used game. It makes sense from the company's point of view, but hopefully publishers will realize the huge market for used games. After all, if there's a game $60 new and $30 used, I would buy the used one. With this patent, I might not even buy the game at all.

re: Sony patent allows tracking of second-hand games and the ability to block their usage

Good luck with that Sony. Chances are, someone will just come around, hack the PS4 firmware and disable those types of checks so it can be bypassed.

People sell games when they're done with it. If you buy a game then you've bought the right to that game and the right to play it since the original right is transferred through ownership.

quote

Imagine putting a used copy of the Mass Effect Garrus spin-off prequel into your PlayStation 4 and instead of being prompted to purchase an online pass, you're prompted to buy the entire game. Sony's patent allows them to see that your used game is associated with some other dude's account. This dude is still playing the game, because he was able to redownload it digitally without a disk, but you... well, you got robbed.

In this case, if someone sells the game, then their access to the digitally downloaded version should be transferred. Sony are instead protecting the interests of rip-off merchants with this patent instead of the end user.

Still, Sony are idiots for removing the PS2 emulator from the later forms of the PS3. Why should I be able to make a virtual PS2 memory card but not play PS2 games?

re: Sony patent allows tracking of second-hand games and the ability to block their usage

Imagine it this way: does Steam allow you to give away or trade your already redeemed games? If anything, Sony wants to create a Steam-like environment on their console, but without giving up the profits that come from retail for console games. The question then is... can Sony really ever compare to the service Steam provides?

re: Sony patent allows tracking of second-hand games and the ability to block their usage

Microsoft 2-2 Sony.

Sorry sony, You were great in the 5th and 6th gen but lost it in the 7th gen starting with your disappointing lack of launch titles on the PS3 and the Vita. Now you've failed the 8th gen before its started. Xbox 720 here we come.

re: Sony patent allows tracking of second-hand games and the ability to block their usage

quote CTTR champion

Microsoft 2-2 Sony.

Sorry sony, You were great in the 5th and 6th gen but lost it in the 7th gen starting with your disappointing lack of launch titles on the PS3 and the Vita. Now you've failed the 8th gen before its started. Xbox 720 here we come.

re: Sony patent allows tracking of second-hand games and the ability to block their usage

quote bluexy

Imagine it this way: does Steam allow you to give away or trade your already redeemed games? If anything, Sony wants to create a Steam-like environment on their console, but without giving up the profits that come from retail for console games. The question then is... can Sony really ever compare to the service Steam provides?

been thinking about that. ever since Sony started with the online pass system i noticed i bought less second handed and more digital. also interesting to note is that i started to use ps+ a lot more. to me it didn't make my gaming more expensive but instead it just made second handed retail games less attractive for me to get. the way this looks right now it does the exact same thing but who knows for certain at this point?

honestly if people just bought ps+ there wouldn't be no problems about second handed games because the service is 10 times cheaper and the cloud saving it comes with has saved me from corrupted save files a few times. i know and understand discs have that special value and that it looks good on the shelves and that it can be convenient to buy second handed if you're the kind a guy with just a few bucks in his pocket that wants to play a game for just the weekend, i know i have been there myself!

sometimes you just gotta deal with it. get past the point where you fear it's going to ruin your hobby and start to think about a way to make it good again, perhaps even improve it. i suspect it's what they planned PS+ for. it was not a bad move to get it in my case. i haven't bought second handed games for months, there simply is no need for me to do it anymore.